Uncoupling and centering mechanism.



I. H. MILLIKEN & W.'J. REGAN.

UNCOUPLING AND CENTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED ]AN.24. l9l1.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

l. H. MILLIKEN & W. J. REGAN.

UNCOUPLING AND CENTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24. 1911.

1,298,370. Patented Mar. 25,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IINITED %TATE% PATENT @FFIQE.

IsAAc H. MILLIKEN, or AsPINwALL, AND WILLIAM J. REGAN, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE MCCONWAY & TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

UNCOUPLING AND CENTERING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, IsAAo H. MILLIKEN and WILLIAM J. REGAN, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Aspinwall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling and Centering Mechanism; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to that class of car couplers which are mounted upon railway vehicles so as to be capable of moving or swinging laterally when the cars to which they are applied are passing around curves in the track. The principal object of the invention is to provide simple, eiiicient and readily assembled mechanism by which the trainman may easily and safely unlock the coupler and shift it laterally to any position that may be necessary to enable it to be coupled with a mating coupler on curved track. A further object of the invention is to so combine the parts that the uncoupling rod may act as a retainer. for the lower portion of the knuckle pin in the event of breakage of the latter and may form a support for the knuckle pin if the same is not otherwise supported. A. still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated in which an uncoupling rod that rotates in a direction opposite to that customary in ordinary practice may be operated by means of a handle or lever which is designed to have the usual outward and upward movement with which trainmen are familiar. There are minor objects of the mvent1on,'as will hereinafter apgear.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 24, 1917.

enerally stated, the primary objects of Patented Mar. 25, 1919..

Serial No. 144,173.

ment of the knuckle locking mechanism, and the said rod extending and operating beneath the knuckle pin of the car coupler in such manner as to constitute a retainer for such knuckle pin.

In the drawings showing the preferred form of our invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

Figure -l is a plan view of an uncoupling and centering mechanism embodying our invention, showing its relation to the car coupler and also illustrating its relation to the body of a car.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the constructions illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the portion of the mechanism adjacent to the side of the car, one of the positions to which the operating handle or lever may be moved when the coupler is to be shifted laterally being shown in dotted lines.

Since many of the features of construction herein shown and described are applicable to car couplers generally, it is to be understood that the details of construction of the coupler illustrated in the drawings are not to be regarded as essential features unless pointed out as such in particular combinations claimed.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the head of a laterally movable car coupler. It is provided with upper and lower pivot lugs 2 and 3, respectively, which receive between them the rotatable knuckle 4. The knuckle 4 is pivotally secured to the coupler head by means of a knuckle pin 5 which passes through the openings in the ivot lugs 2 and 3 and through a correspon ing opening in the knuckle 4 in the customary manner. The knuckle pin 5, as shown, is preferably inserted from above, instead of being inserted from below as is often the case. 6 indicates a rotatable rod or rock shaft 8 which, as will hereinafter appear, the knuckle look ing mechanism may be moved to unlocked position. i y

The uncoupling rod 8, which is preferably of round cross section, is pivotallysupported from the lower pivot lug 3 of the coupler head by passing through the perforation in a supporting lug 9 which extends downwardly from the lower pivot lug at one side of the knucklepin 5 andclosely adjacent thereto. In order that'the rod 8 may shift the coupler laterally in either direction it is shouldered or bent upon opposite sides of the supporting lug 9, as at 10 and 11, one or the other of which shouldered portions of the rod, depending upon the direction in which said rod is shifted laterally, being adapted to engage the interposed supportin lug 9 to thus transmit to the coupler head t e lateral movement of the uncoupling rod. As shown,

it is preferred that the bent or shouldered portions 10 and 11 shall constitute a U- shaped bend in the uncoupling rod ,8. Such a construction reduces the distance the unpractice. In order to avoid confusion on the.

art of trainmen it is desirable that the anclle or lever 12 by which the uncoupling rod is actuated shall moveoutwardly and upwardly in the usual manner when manipulated to effect an unlocking of the coupler.

To accomplish this in a simple and efficient manner the outer end of the uncoupling rod is preferably provided with an offset portion in the form of a loop or eye 13'which is adapted to receive the hooked upper end 11 of the uncoupling lever or operating handle 12. This operating lever, which is preferably round in cross section, is bent intermediate of its ends to provide an eye or loop 15 v that is adapted to receive a U-shaped member 16 which forms a pivotal support fo the lever. The member 16 is stationary, being rigidly secured to a bracket 17, by means of nuts 18 which have threaded engagement with the ends of the U-shaped member, the bracket 17 being secured to the car body, as by means of bolts 19. In order to support the outer end of the uncoupling rod 8 the bracket 17 is provided with. pro ectin lugs 20 and 21 between which the rod 8 is a apted to be received and by the lower one, 20, of

which such rod is supported, a cotter 22 be ing preferably'employed to retain the uncoupling rod in assembled position.

The U-shaped supporting'member 16 is also preferably of round cross section, to reduce the friction between it and the operating lever or handle 12 carried thereby, and it is preferably inclined downwardly away fromthe bracket 17 so as to permit the oper-. ating lever 12 to return by gravity to. the position from which it is operated to effect an unlocking of the coupler.

The member 16 forms an extended pivotal support upon which the operating handle 12 I is adapted to be bodily shifted so as to occupy either the position shown in dotted lines at 23, in Fig. 4:, or a corresponding position at the point 24 on the opposite side of laterally in either direction, the lever 12 is slid around on'the U-shaped member 16 until it occupies either of the positions 23 or 24,

as may be most convenlent, and is then manipulated by the trainman to impart to the coupler movement of the desired direction and extent.

In assembling the mechanism with relation to the coupler, the uncoupling rod 8 is first passed through the supportinglug 9- and is then inserted into the opening? at the lower end of the lifter 6 of the knuckle locking mechanism of the coupler. The offset loop or eye 13 at the outer end of the rod 8 and the hooked upper end 11 of the operating lever 12 may then be brought into assembled relation by rotating both these members, after which the rod is slipped over its support 20 on the bracket 17 and retained n place by the cotter 22, the lever 12 ha ving been previously threaded upon the U-shaped pivotal support 16 and the latter having been secured to the bracket 17 by =means of the nuts 18. I

We claim: 7

1. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a car coupler, of

atively connected so as to be capable of moving with respect to each other and being adapted to rotate in opposite directions in efiecting an unlocking movement of said knuckle locking mechanism.

2. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a car coupler, of means for actuating the knuckle locking mechanism thereof to unlock said coupler, said means involving a rotatable rod supported from the lower pivot lug of the head of said coupler and extending rearwardly from said point of support to engage said locking mechanism and also extending from said pivot lug laterally toward the side of the car, and a lever for rotating said rod, said lever being rotatable upwardly and forwardly to effect an unlocking movement of said knuckle locking mechanism.

3. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler head, a rotatable knuckle, a knuckle pin pivotally securing said knuckle to said head, and knuckle locking mechanism spaced rearwardly from said knuckle pin, of an uncoupling rod rotatable on an axis extending in its direction of length for actuating said knuckle locking mechanism to unlock said knuckle, said uncoupling rod constituting a knuckle pin retainer extending under said pin in all operative positions of the parts.

4. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler head, a rotatable knuckle, a knuckle pin pivotally securing said knuckle to said head, and looking mechanism for retaining said knuckle in coupled position, of means for moving said locking mechanism to unlocked position, said means involving a, rod extending from the coupler toward the side of the car and constituting a knuckle pin retainer and also constituting means for shiftingsaid coupler laterally in either direction.-

5. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler head having upper and lower pivot lugs, a knuckle pivotally mounted between said pivot lugs, a knuckle pin connecting said knuckle to said pivot lugs, locking mechanism for retaining said knuckle in coupled position, and an uncoupling rod for actuating said locking mechanism to unlock said knuckles, said uncoupling rod extending from the coupler toward the side of the car and being supported from the lower pivot lug and constituting means for shifting said coupler laterally in either direction.

6. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination of a coupler head, a knuckle, a knuckle pin pivotally connecting said knuckle to said coupler head, locking mechanism for retaining said knuckle in coupled position, and means for shifting the coupler laterally in either direction, said means being connected to the coupler head adjacent to said knuckle pin and in advance of the plane of the buffing face of said coupler head.

7. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination of a coupler head, a knuckle, a knuckle pin pivotally connecting said knuckle to said coupler head, locking mechanism for retaining said knuckle in coupled position, and a rod rotatable on an axis extending in its direction of length and connected to the coupler head adjacent to said knuckle pin-and extending toward the side of the car for shifting the coupler laterally in either direction, said rod, having shouldered engagement with said coupler head enabling it to shift said head laterally in either direction.

8. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination of a coupler head having upper and lower pivot lugs, a knuckle rotatably mounted between said pivot lugs, a knuckle pin pivotally connecting said knuckle to said pivot lugs, locking mechanism for retaining said knuckle in coupled position, and a rod for shifting the coupler laterally, one of said pivot lugs be ing provided with a perforated lug through which said rod passes, and said rod having bent or shouldered portions upon opposite sides of said perforated lug.

9. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of a rod operatively connected to said coupler for shifting the same laterally, a lever movably connected to said rod and adapted to shift the same transversely of the car in either direction, and an extended pivotal support for said lever, said lever being adapted to engage said rod above said pivotal support and being adapted to be shifted bodily upon said pivotal support to change the pivotal relation of said support and lever for effecting lateral shifting of said coupler.

10. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of a rod operatively connected thereto for unlocking said coupler and shifting the same laterally, a lever operatively connected to said rod and adapted to shift the same transversely of the car in either direction, and an extended pivotal support for said lever, said lever being adapted to be shifted bodily upon said pivotal support to change the pivotal relation of said support and lever for effecting lateral shifting of the coupler, and said pivotal support being inclined to permit said lever to return by gravity to the position from which it is operated for uncoupling.

11. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a car coupler, of means for shifting the same laterally and for actuating the locking mechanism thereof to unlock the coupler, said means involv- III ing a rotatable rod operatively connected at its inner end to said locking mechanism and provided at its outer end with an offset portion, a rotatable lever operatively engaging the ofl'set portion of said rod and adapted both to rotate said rod and to shift said rod laterally in either direction, and an extended pivotal support for said lever, said lever being adapted to pivot upon said support both When operating to unlock the locking mechanism of the coupler and when shifting the coupler laterally.

12. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a car coupler, of a rotatable uncoupling rod operatively connected to the knuckle locking mechanism of said coupler and adapted to shift said couple'r laterally in either direction, a rotatable lever for actuating said rod to efi'ect an unlocking movement of said locking mechanism and to effect lateral shifting of the coupler, and means rigidly secured to the car forming a pivotal support for said lever, said rod and said lever being detachably connected, and said lever being formed with an eye for the reception of said lever supporting means and being adapted to be shifted bodily with respect to said lever supportlng means.

13. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination With a laterally movable coupler and its locking mechanism, of means for unlocking and shifting said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever and an extended pivotal support for said lever, said lever being adapted to engage and pivot upon said support when operating to unlock saidcoupler and being adapted to. be shifted bodily upon said pivotal support to change the pivotal relation of said support and lever for effecting lateral shifting of said coupler.

In testimony whereof We aifix our signatures.

ISAAC H. MILLIKEN; WILLIAM J. REGAN. 

